A design for this tapestry by Pieter Coecke van Aelst (d.1550) remains in the Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt (illustrated in R. Bauer, 'Tapisserien der Renaissance', Exhibition Catalogue, 1981, p. 41). Van Aelst travelled to Constantinople in 1533 to make tapestry designs for the Sultan. As the Sultan's religion forbade illustrations of humans or animals, however, the voyage was in vain. During his travels he studied the types and costumes of the locals, which is reflected in the garments worn by the figures in this tapestry. The design is in reverse to the tapestry and extends to show the kneeling St. Stephen surrounded by figures hurling large stones at him. To the far left St. Stephen is shown being thrown out of the city with crowds pushing him on. The Darmstadt sketch shows, in contrast to the tapestry, an extensive townscape just beyond the figures. This is replaced in this version of the design with a wooded, hilly landscape with a town in the middle distance

A second, complete version of this tapestry with only minor differences in the treatment of the foreground foliage and details in the landscape beyond, remains in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, Inv. T 71/8, and is illustrated in R. Bauer, op. cit., pp. 40-42, illus. 26.

The scene illustrated is from the Acts of the Apostles, 7: 57-59 of the New Testament. St. Stephen, one of the seven disciples and the first Christian martyr, preached the wonders and acts of Christ. In one of his speeches he accused the Elders of having murdered the Messiah. Upon this the council condemned him to death by stoning. He was pulled out of the city and stoned